Tubing bleeder



Jan. 15, 1929.

E. V. CROWELL TUBING BLEEDER Filed May 18, 1925 INVENTOR. 1-7 0 1/ C'rowe/Z A TTORNEY.

' bleeder in the well bore and Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

. UNITED STATES ERD V. CROWEIL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TUBING BLEEDER.

Application filed May 18, 1925.

This invention is a bleeder for draining the fluid from a string of tubing in a Well pres paratory to withdrawing the tubing; and it is the object of the invention to provide the string of tubing with a normally closed bleeder port which is readily opened by shifting the string of tubing in the well bore.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for automatically closing the bleeder port as the string of tubing is elevated after draining of the fluid therefrom.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a construction forming a safety appliance for automatically preventing dropping of the tubing in the well in the event of accidental breaking of the string during its withdrawal.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a means which is adapted to be anchored in a well so as to provide for limited shifting of the string of tubing relative to the anchoring means to open or close the bleeder port, the said anchoring means being adapted for manual control at any desired level in a well, and also arranged for automatic operation in the event of the tubing breaking, to form the previously mentioned safety appliance.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an anchoring means adapted for sliding movement of the string of tubing relative thereto and having yieldable means for retarding and finally limiting said relative movement to cushion the anchoring of the string of tubing- Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the'following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a well bore showing the tubing bleeder closed and in position for lowering the same in the well bore.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tubing shifted to open position for draining the string of tubing preparatory to withdrawal thereof.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are transverse sections on the lines indicated in Fig. 1.

A- usual string of easing 1 extends into" the well bore 2. and a string of tubing 3 forming a conduit for the fluid extends downwardly through the casing in spaced relation from the wall thereof.

An anclmi ing member having a suitable Serial No. 31,018.

controlling means is adapted for limiting sliding of the string of tubing relative thereto to provide a tubing catcher or anchor; and icyproviding a normally closed port in the string of tubing and opening the port by said relative movement between the tubing and the anchoring means, a practical and efiicient tubing bleeder is formed. The normally closed port which is adapted to form the tubing bleeder is provided in a length of pipe 4 connected by coupling collars 5 to the ends of next adjacent lengths of the string of tubing 3 in order that the bleeder may be so placed in the string of tubing as to position the drain opening at any desired level.

A sleeve 7 is slidably mounted on the pipe 4; and in order to form a tubing bleeder, a bleeder port 6 may be formed in pipe 4, and sleeve 7 may have a port 8 adapted for alinement with the bleeder port when pipe 4 is shifted downwardly through the sleeve. When sleeve 7 is thus employed as a part of the tubing bleeder construction, its bore is preferably provided with an elongated annular recess 9 communicating with port 8, so that any appreciable shifting of pipe 4 downwardly through the sleeve will permit the fluid to drain through port 6, recess 9, and port 8 Without necessitating exact alinement of the ports.

An abutment 10 is provided between the upper end of sleeve 7 and the pipe 4; and to adapt the device as a tubing bleeder this abutment is shown as a packing gland. A spring 11 is coiled on the pipe between the packing gland and the upper coupling collar 5 in order to yieldably shift the sleeve downwardly on the pipe so as to normally close port 6. The downward movement of the sleeve for closing the bleeder port is preferably limited by the abutment of its lower end against a shoulder 12 provided on the pipe.

lVith. the string of tubing in a well, sleeve 7 may be fixed against axial displacement so that lowering the string of tubing relative thereto will shift pipe 4 downwardly through the Sleeve to its limit of movement as controlled by the compression of spring 11, thereby anchoring the string of tubing in the well and also aligining ports (land 8 when the string of tubing is provided with the tubing bleeder.

As an instance of this arrangement a slip support 13 is slidably mounted on pipe 4 below sleeve 7 and preferably comprises sleeves 13 and 13 having axially extending cooperating tongues and recesses 14 at their adjacent ends, so as to permit relative axial movement of the sleeves and dependent rotation thereof relative to pipe 4.

Spring arms 14 extend upwardly from lower sleeve 13 through guide loops 15 on sleeve 13*, and slips 16 carried by the arms are adapted to be expanded by sleeve 7 so as to engage thewall of casing 1 and thereby lock the sleeve against axial movement. For this purpose the lower end of sleeve 7 tapers downwardly to form a wedge 17 which slides down in back of the slips for expanding the same when pipe 4 and sleeve 7 are lowered relative to the slip support 13.

As the string of tubing is lowered in the well it is held against such axial movement relative to the slip support in order to prevent locking engagement of the slips, but when the string of tubing is at the desired level it is released from the slip support which is frictionally held in casing 1, so that further lowering of the tubing will shift the wedge 17 relative to the slips in order to engage the same in the casing and thereby lock sleeve 7 against axial movement.

The means for releasably holding pipe 4 1 relative to the slip -support is shown as comprising gudgeons 18 on the pipe adapted to be received in slots 20 extending circumferentially of sleeve 13 with one end of the slots opening downwardly through the lower end of the sleeve as shown at 21.

As the string of tubing is being lowered into the well, pipe 4 is turned relative to the sli support so that the gud eons 18 are loc ed in slots 20 as shown in li ig. 1, thereby preventing relative axial movement between the pipe and the sli support; and when the tubing is in place tlie pipe 4 is turned until the gudgeons are in axial alinement with slots 21, to permit lowering of the string of tubing relative to the slip support as shown in Fig. 2.

The means for frictionally hol ling the slip support in casing 1 during such turning and lowering of the pipe 4 relative thereto, comprises outwardly bowed springs 22 permanently fixed at their respective ends to the sleeves 13 and 13 and frictionally engaging the wall of easing 1. The relative axial play between sleeves 13 and 13 permits move ment of the springs for free adjustment to frictionally engage the wall of the casing.

When it is desired to anchor the tubing and subsequently bleed the same, the tubing is turned until the gudgeons 18 are in alinement with slots 21, the slip support being held against turning. by its spring 22, and the tubing is then lowered with respect to the slip support held by the springs until the wedge 17 has been moved down'in back of the slips 16 so as to expand the latter into biting engagement with the casing wall, It is thus 4 first slides upwardly through the fixed sleeve 7 to close port 6, and then elevates the sleeve by the abutment of shoulder 12 against the lower end of the same. The wedging engagement of slips 16 is thus released so that elevation of the string of tubing may be continued, the slip support 13 being carried upwardly with the string of tubing by the abutment of gudgeons 18 against the upper walls of slots 20.

During withdrawal of the string of tubing the pipe 4 is not turned for moving gudgeons 18 back in slots 20, the gudgeons remaining in alinement with the open ends 21 of the slots so that if the string of tubing breaks, the slip support will be frictionally held in .the casing by springs 22 while pipe 4 drops freely through the slip support to expandthe slips by the wedge 17 and thereby lock the sleeve 7 in the well casing. Continued dropping of the string of tubing will then compress spring 11 between collar 5 and packing gland lO so as to lock the string of tubing against further dropping when the spring is compressed to its limit; and the compression of the spring will cause the fall of the upper portion of the string of tubing to be gradually stopped and will thereby form a cushioning medium for preventing injury to the tubing.

The springs 22 are preferably spirally mounted,on slip support 13 so that as the spring of tubing is lowered in the well the frictional engagement of the springs against the wall of the casing will tend to turn the. slip support soas to maintain gudgeons 18 in the rear ends of slots 20; and in similar manner the frictional engagement of the springs during withdrawal of the string of tubing will tend to turn the slip support so as to maintain gudgeons 18 in alinement with the open ends 21 of the slots.

The locking engagement between the string of tubing and the slip support is thus assured during lowering of the string; and when the tubing is withdrawn the parts are held in po-. sition for automatically locking the string in the well casing by the expansion of the slips,

in the event of breaking of the string of tuboperative under control of the tubing at the will of the operator. A cushioning means is also provided for absorbing shock when the string of tubing is caught by the automatically operating anchor.

The present invention is limited to a tubing bleeder adapted to be operated by the described anchoring mechanism, and in my c0- pending divisional application, Ser. No. 152,564, filed December 4, 1926, I have shown and claimed the same anchoring means employed on a string of tubing which does not necessarily have a tubing bleeder incorporated therein.

I claim:

1. A tubing bleeder for a string ofv tubing comprising a ported conduit having its ends connected to portions of the string projecting above and below the same so as to prevent relative telescoping between the conduit and the string of tubing and insure axial shifting of the conduit with the string of tubing, and a sleeve normally closing the conduit port and having a discharge port and an annular recess communicating therewith and adapted for alinement with the conduit port by movement of the string of tubing and ported con duit relative to the sleeve.

2. A tubing bleeder comprising a ported conduit forming a fixed section of a string of tubing, a ported sleeve slidable relative to.

the conduit, yieldable means normally shift.- ing the sleeve relative to the conduit for nonalinement of the ports, and means for locking the sleeve against axial displacement in a well whereby shifting the string of tubing relative to the sleeve will compress the yieldable means to permit alinement of the ports.

3. A string of tubing adapted for reception in a well bore and having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port, and anchoring means for the tubing cooperating with the wall of the well bore and permitting limited axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port.

4. A string of tubing adapted for reception in a well bore and having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the bleeder port. means cooperating with the wall of the well bore for anchoring the closure means to permit axial movement of the string of tubing relative thereto to open the port, and means for limiting said relative axial movement to anchor the tubing in the Well.

5. A string of tubing having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port and anchoring means for the tubing permitting limited axial relative to the closure means to open the port, said anchoring means being adapted for automatic operation in the event of breaking of the string of tubing.

i 6. A string of tubing having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port and anchoring means for the tubing permitbelow and above the same so movement of the tubing ting limited axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port,

s'aid anchoring means being adapted for manual operation, or automatic operation in the event of breaking of the strin;.- of tubing.

7. A string of tubing having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port anchoring means for the tubing permitting limited axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port, and means for cushioning the limited axial movement of the tubing.

8. A tubing bleeder for a string of tubing comprising a ported conduit having its ends connected to portions of the string projecting above and below the same so as to prevent relative telescoping between the conduit and the string of tubing and insure axial shifting of the conduit with the string, means for normally closing the conduit port, means for anchoring the closure means in a well to permit axial movement of the string of tubing and ported conduit relative to the an chored closure means to open the port, and means for limiting said relative axial movement to anchor the tubing in the well.

9. A tubing bleeder for a string of tubing comprising a ported conduit having its ends connected to portions of the string projecting as to prevent relative telescoping between the conduit and the string of tubing and insure axial shitting of the conduit with the string, means for normally closing the conduit port adapted to be lowered with the conduit and tubing into a Well, means for anchoring the closure in the well to permit axial movement of the tubing and conduit relative to the anchored closure means to open the port, and means for limiting said relative axial movement to anchor the tubing and conduit in the well. 7 10. A tubing bleeder comprising a ported conduit forming a fixed section of a string 0t tubing by connecting the ends of the conduit to adjacent ends of upper and lower portions of the string of tubing, means for normally closing the conduit port adapted to be lowered with the conduit into a well, and means for anchoring the closure means against axial displacement at any desired level is a well to permit further downward movement of the string of tubing relative to the anchored closure means to open the port. 11. A tubing bleeder comprising a ported conduit forming a fixed section eta string of tubing by connecting the ends of the conduit to adjacent ends of upper and lower portions of the string of tubing, means slidable relative to the entire string of tubing for normally closing the conduit port, engaging means on the string of tubing, said closure means and engaging means being adapted to be lowered with the string of tubing into a well, and means for then lowering the entire string of tubing and closure means relative Ill) - of tubing and closure to the engaging means whereby the latter anchors the closure means against axial displacement to permit further .downward movement of the entire string of tubing relative to the anchored closure means to open the port.

12. A tubing bleeder comprising a ported conduit forming a fixed section of a string of tubing by connecting the ends of the conduit to adjacent ends of upper and lower portions of the string of tubing, means slidable relative to the entire strin of tubing for nor mally closing the conduit port, engaging means on the string of tubing gmeans for locking the engaging means relative to the string means during lowering of the strin of tubing into a well, means for releasing said locking means by movement of the entire string of tubin relative to said engaging means to permit%owering of the entire string of tubing and closure means relative to the engaging means whereby the closure meansis anchored against axial displacement to permit further lowering of the entire string of tubing relative to the anchored closure means to open the port.

13. A tubing bleeder comprising a ported conduit forming a fixed section of a string of tubing by connecting the ends of the con duit to adjacent ends of upper and lower portions of the string of tubing, means slidable relative to the entire string of tubing for normally closing the conduit port, slips for anchoring the closure means against axial displacement by longitudinal movement of the entire string of tubing relative to the slips, the entire string of tubing being adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the anchored closure means to open the port, means for fixing the slips against turning in a well, and means forsecuring the slips against longitudinal movement of the string of tubing relative thereto, said securing means being adapted for release by turning the string of tubing relative to the slips.

14. A string of tubing adapted for reception in a well bore and having a bleeder port,

means for normally closing the bleeder port.

and means cooperating with the wall of the well bore for anchoring the closure means to permit axial movement of the string of tubing relative to the anchored closure means to opgii the port and anchor the tubing in the we 15. A string of tubing having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port anchoring means axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port and adapted for automatic operation to catch the tubing in the event of breaking of the string, and means for the tubing permitting ing means for the tubing permitting axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port, the said anchoringmeans being rotatable in reverse directions relative to the tubing to shift the anchoring means to position for operation or to lock the anchoring means in inoperative position, and automatically operating means tending to rotate the anchoring means in said reverse directions to shift the anchoring means to operative and inoperative position during elevation and lowering of the anchoring means with the tubing.

17. A string of tubing having a port, means for normally closing the port and anchoring means for the tubing controlled by the tubing and permitting axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port.

18. A string means for normally closing the port, anchoring means adapted for axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means, to open the port. means for automatically actuatingthe anchoring means in the event of breaking of the tubing, and means for rendering the automatic actuating means operative or inoperative.

19. A string of tubing having a port, means for normallv closing the port, anchorlng means adapted for axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port, and means for rendering the anchoring means operative or inoperative by relative turning movement between the tubing and the anchoring means.

20. A strin of tubing adapted for reception in a well ore and having a bleeder port, means for normally closing the port, anchoring means for the tubing permitting axial movement of the tubing relative to the closure means to open the port, the said anchoring means being rotatable in reverse directions relative to the tubing to shift the anchoring means to position for operation or to lock the anchoring means in inoperative position, spiral springs on the anchoring means adapted to engage the wall ofthe well bore so as to tend to rotate the anchoring means in said reverse directions to shift the anchoring means to operative and inoperative position during elevation and lowering of the anchorin" means with thetubing. I,

n testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification. ERD V. CROWELL.

of tubing having a port, 

